Automobile-top.



H. W. MMULLIN.

AUTOMOBILE TOP.

APPLICATION'FILED sEPme. 1915.

'Patented' Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. W. McMULLlN. AUTOMOBILE 10P.

H. w. McMuLLlN. AUTOMOBILE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. T915- Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

akku/Meg UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

HARRY w. ivICMULLiN, vor DENVER, coEoRAno, AssIeNoR, er DIRECT AND iviEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE IVICMULLIN AUTOMATIC Tor COMPANY, E DENVER, coito- RADO, A CORPORATION 0F COLORADO.

AUTOMOBILE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all 'Lv/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY W'. h/ICMULLIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State ofA Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Tops; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding tops for automobiles and other vehicles and for use in all relations where such tops are required. The invention also includes operating mechanism for these tops whereby they are folded and lunfolded or closed and opened, through the medium of mechanism under the control of the chauffeur or other person in charge of the machine or vehicle which is equipped with the said top.

My object is to provide an apparatus of this class adapted to be quickly and easily opened and closed, thus avoiding the tedious process of manipulating the top which usually requires two persons, one on each side. The difficulty and annoyance incident to the use of the constructions of this character heretofore in vogue, will be readily understood by all who have had experience in opening or raising the top, for instance, during a storm. By means of my improvement all delay and annoyance are avoided since by the simple manipulation of a lever, the top may be quickly opened or raised and brought into position to protect the 'occupants of the vehicle either from storm or sun.

In my improvement the bows or folding members of the top have a lazy-tongs contween a hand operable lever and the rearwardly located bows, the top maybe raised and extended or unfolded very quickly and by the expenditure of a small amount of power. It is evidentthat the` closing or collapsing of the top mayV also be quickly and easily accomplished. n I

`Having briefly outlined the invention as nection, and by a suitable connection be-` well as the function it isintended to perform I will proceed to describe the same inV detail, reference being made to the accompanying-drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing;

Figure 1 is a side elevationpartly in section and partly broken away of av vehicle body equipped with my improvement, the

itop being shown in the raised ion.

anism, the saine being shown on a larger scale than in Fig.' .l and partly in section.

Fig. 8 is a view similar showing the top in the folded or closed position in full lines and partly raised in dotted lines. Y i

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, the parts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view illustrating the manner ofk locking or securing the top in the raised or open position, the section being taken on the line 5-5, Fig.v 1,Y

the parts being shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a section taken onvthe line 6-6, Fig. 1, looking upwardly or in the direction ofthe arrow adjacent said line. v i

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 1, looking toward the left or in the direction of the arrow adjacent said line.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views. y

Let the numeral 10. designate the body of a vehicle as an automobile equipped with a folding top 12. As shownin the Vdrawing this top is composed of 'or includes four bows, or bow shaped members which may be designated 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively. For convenience the bow 13 may be referred toas the rear bow, the bow 14k as the main bow, the bow 15 as the intermediate bow and the bow 16 as theoutrigger bow. 'Io these bows are lapplied any suitable flexible coveringwhich may be attached in the usual, or dinary' or any suitablev manner. In the drawing this flexible covering is indicated by dotted lines and designated by the numeral 17. Attention is called to the fact thatv the bow shaped member 16 when the top is raised or opened, occupies a horizontal position, its closed member extending Patent-ea Nov. i3, i917.

or open posi-V Fig, 2 is a detail view of the lever con-k struction constituting Va part of the mech to Fig. 1, but

around and on the outside of the upper part of the wind shield 18, to which it is connected by means of a small lever or pawl 19A (see Fig. 5) which is fulcrumed on the frame of the wind shield as shown at 9. Below the fulcrum is located a spring 20 which acts upon the manipulating arm 21 of the lever to throw the opposite arm 22 outwardly whereby a pin 23 carried thereby is caused to enter an opening 24 formed in the bow 16, thus securing vthe top in the raised position. y

rhe bows 13, 14, 15 and 16 are designated in the order of their location, the bow 13 being the rearmost, the .other bowsforwardly therefrom being located in the order named. The rearmost bow 13 is connected at its lower extremity on each side with a pivot pin or bolt 25 which bolt also connects the bow 13 with a short rearwardly extending member 26 formed upon the lower extremity of the adjacent end of the bow 14, the member 26 of this bow extending approximately at right angles to the side member of the bow 14. le. rock spindle 27 passes through the lower extremity of the bow 14 on each side, the inner extremity 28 of this spindle being reduced in size and squared to enter an opening of counterpart shape where it passes through the llower end of the bow (see Fig. 4). The squared opening through which the reduced extremity 28 of the spindle passes, is located 'at the angle formed by the side member of the bow and the short integral rearwardly extending` arm or member 26. It must be understood that Fig 4 illustrates the construction on the right hand side Iof the vehicle referring to the position of the vehicle body as shown in Figs 1 and 3, in order that it may be under stood that it is the inner extremity of the spindle member' 27 to which the nut 28 is applied. ln addition to the connection between the bows 13 and 14 by reason of the employment of the member 26 and the pivot pin or bolt 25, a crank arm 5 is connected with the rock spindle 27 as shown at 6, the spindle being` squared to fit into an opening of counterpart shape formed in the forward end (see Fig. 4) of the crank arm 5, the rear end of this crank armbeing pivotally connected with the extremity of the bow 13 on each side of the top by means of the pin 25. To the outer extremity of the spindle 27, is secured one end of a' crank arm 29 whose opposite end is pivotally connected as shown at 30 to the upperjextremity of a link 31 whose lower extremity is pivotally connected as shown at 32 with one end of a crank arm 33 which is secured to a rock shaft 34 journ naled on the ybody of the vehicle and below the bottom thereof, the said shaft extending the entire width of the vehicle body and projecting on opposite sides far enough to permit the connection 'of the crank arms 33,

since the mechanism as thus far described for manipulating the top is duplicated. This mechanism includes the crank arm 33 and all of the parts above this'arm and forming the connection'between the arm 33 and the bows 13 and 14 of the top.

The rock shaft 34 is also equipped at one extremity preferably the right-hand extremity (see Figs. 1 and 3) with a crank arm 35 whose lower end is pivotally connected as shown at 36 with the rear end of a rod 37 whose forward extremity is pivotally connected as shown at 38 with the lower end of a cranl'r arm 39 vwhich is fast on a rock spindle or shaft 40 journaled on the body of the machine and below the bottom thereof (see Figs. 1 and 3). Upon the rock shaft 40 is mounted a ratchet wheel 81, and adjacent to this wheel, the lower ex tremity of a hand lever' 1, is secured to the rock shaft 40, this lever being equipped with a vertically movable dog or pawl 42 secured to the lower end of a rod 43 mounted in guides 44 and 45 carried by the lever. A spiral spring 46 is mounted on the rod, its upper extremity engaging a stop 47 fast on the rod, while its lower extremity engages the relatively stationary guide of the lever. This spring is normally under tension to dise'ngage` the pawl from the ratchet'wheel 81. However when it is deired to actuate 'the operating mechanism, for raising or lowering the top, the operator will press downwardly on the upper extremity of the rod 43, whereby the pawl 42 is caused to enter one ofthe recesses of the ratchet wheel, in which event the rock shaft't@ may be Vturned in the one direction or the other according as it is necessary to raise or lower the vehicle top.

In order that the mechanism heretofore described may act upon the bows 13 and 14 with which itis connected, to raise and lower or open and close the vehicle top, it is necessary that the bows of the top be connected in a peculiar manner. The connection which I have chosen for accomplishing the aforesaidobject, consists of a lazy-tongs construction which will now be described in detail.

This lazy-tongs construction is repeated on opposite sides of the top as vill be readily understood by reference to Fig. 8. To the rearmost bow 13 is pivotally connected on opposite sides the rear extremities of levers 48 of the lazy-tongs system, this pivotal connectio-n being shown at 49. rihe rear `ends of the lever members 48 are bent upwardly as shown at 50 from a point 51 to the pivot 49. The forward extremities of these levers 48 are bent downwardly as shown at 57 from a point 53, their lower ends being pivotally connected as shown at 58 with the rear extremities of two lever members 59 which extremities of the last named levers are bent downwardly as shown at 60 for the purpose.

Lever members are pivotally connected are bent upwardlyT as shown at 52,v their up-Y per ends being pivotally connected as shown Y at 54 with the bow 14 on opposite sides. The forward extremities of the levers 59 are bent 1 upwardlyT as shown at 61 and pivotally connected as shown at 62 with the bow 15 and with the rear extremities of the upwardly bent ends 63 of relatively short lever members 64; The rear extremities of lever mem- ,Y bers 65 are bent upwardly as'shown at 66 and pivotally connected at 54 with the forward extremities of the lever members 48 and also with the bows 14 as heretofore ex-v plained Vwhen describing the connection of the lever members 4S with said bow. The forward extremities of the lever members 65 are pivotally connected as shown at 68 'with the bent ends 69 of the foremost bow 16.

The lever members 59 and 65 are pivotally connected as shown at-70 about midway between their extremities, while theV lever members 64 are pivotally connected at their forward extremities as shown at 71 with the parallel arms of the bow 16on opposite sides at points considerably in the rearV of the forward extremities of these arms, using the term forward with reference to the position ofthe arms of the bow 16 when the top is raised, and consequently whenV the last named bow is in the horizontal position. Lugs 72 areprovided on the lever arms 59 while the'levers 64 are similarly provided with lugs 73. These lugsserveto maintain the proper position of the adjacent levers when the top is in its lowered or closed position, preventing bow 15 from dropping back or falling forward too far. Attention is called to the fact that in describing the lazy-tongs construction yas just given, the terms front and rear and upward and downward, are used with reference to the position of the various members of the top and the various members of the lazy-tongs construction, when the top is in the raised position as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7.

From the foregoing description the` use and operation of my improved construction will be readily understood. Assuming that the top is in the collapsed or lowered position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, andv that the operating mechanism is in corresponding position, if it is desired to raise or open the top, the lever 41 will be manipulated for the purpose. In order to do this,

the rod 43 which actuates the dog 41, will be moved downwardly to cause the dog to engage one of the recesses of the ratchet wheel 81. This lever will then be moved forwardly and it may be assumed that the first result will be to move the bows 13, 14,

15 and 16 of thetop12,=into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the corresponding position of the operating mechanism being correspondingly indicated. j At the completion of this step of the operation,

the relative positions of the bows 13, 14, 15y and 16 has not been changed, that is to say,y they still occupy the folded relation.y kifde-y sired the rod 43 may be released whereby the spring 47 will act todisengage the dogf 42 from the ratchet wheel, in which 'event the lever may be moved rearwardly and the dog moved downwardly to engage anotherv recess of the ratchet'wheehin order to get a new hold, for convenience of manipulation. Then as the lever 41 is again moved forwardly, the vope-rating mechanism will be actuated byvirtue of --the-lazy-tongs connection between the members 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the top, to raise the top or throw its parts to the relative positions indicated in Figsl and 6. Attention is called to the fact that after the parts have assumed the dotted line positions in Fig. 3,- only al slight further movement of the roclrlspindle 27,-'will be necessary in order to unfold'the bows .of the top and cause these `parts tofassume the` position shown in Figs. 1 and 6. 1 Consequently'the-re willv only be a jslight'movement of the parts '5 and 26 and consequently only a slight movement ofthe bow 13, during the necessary movement ofthe bowl-1 in order to extend the top or throw it to the position shown in Fig. 1.V rlhe movement of the crank arm 29 and the parts' and'26 s in order tofextend the top to thel position shown -in Fig. 1, is the dierence between thev position-of these parts in Fig. 3 and their position in Fig. 1. rlhe slight movement of the bow 13 will be permitted by virtue of 'the-elastic or stretching capacity of the 'cover-17. VThe bow 13 willV be moved slightly upwardly and outwardly as the rock spindle 27 is turned from Vthe position shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines, to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, by reason of the fact that the extremities of the bow 13 are connected withthe rear extremities of the members 5 and 26. However as thebow 14 is mounted directly onfthe spindle 27 and fast thereon to turn therewitln-the reduced part 2S being preferably squared for the purpose and engaging a counterpart opening formed in each extremity of the bow, the partial rotation of the rock spindle 27 neces- Vsaryto throw' the bow-14 from the position los lazy-tongs construction heretofore described.

By havlng the pivotal connection 62 between levers 59 and 64 above the pivot points 58 and 71 a brake joint is provided which will open only in an upward direction.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is,-

l. A top for automobiles and other vehicles comprising a vehicle body with which a main bow is pivotally connected, a rear bow pivotally connected with said main bow adjacent its connection with the vehicle body, an intermediate bow supported in advance of said main bow, an Outrigger bow, lazy tongs connections between the kbows comprising a series of levers, the connections being of such a character that each of the bows forward of the rearmost has thev forward and rear extremities of one pair of lazy tongs levers on each side of the top pivotally connected therewith, while the extremities of another pair of similarly located Vlevers are pivotally connected with each other, but free from the bow, the pivots of the two pairs of levers being adjacent to each other, the pivoted extremities of said levers being bent at such angles that the bodies of all the levers shall assume substantially horizontal alinement when the top is extended and the connection between said Outrigger and intermediate bows forming a brake joint opening upwardly only.

2. A top for automobiles and other vehicles comprising a vehicle body withwhich a main bow is pivotally connected, a rear bow pivotally connected with said main bow adjacent its connection with the vehicle body, an Outrigger bow, an lintermediate bow supported intermediate of said main bow and Outrigger bows respectively, a lazy tongs connection between the bows, the said lazy tongs connection being of such character that each of the bows forward of the rearmost has the forward and rear extremities of one pair of lazy tongs levers on each side ofthe top pivot-ally connected therewith while the corresponding extremities of another pair of similarly located levers are pivotally con nected with each other, but free from the bow, the pivots of the two pairs of levers being adjacent to each other, the pivoted extremities of one pair of levers being bent upwardly, and ofthe other pair downwardly, the said bends being at such angles that the bodies of all of the levers connected withI each other shall assume positions between their bent extremities in substantially horizontal alinement when the top is extended and the connection between the Outrigger and intermediate bows forming a brake joint opening upwardly only.

3. A top for automobiles or other vehicles comprising a vehicle body with which a main bow is pivotallyconnected, airear bow pivotally connected with thel main bow adjacent its pivotal connection to the body, an intermediate bow, an Outrigger bow, a series of lazy tongs levers connecting with several bows similarly at each side of the top and the pivoted extremities of said levers being bent at such angles that the bodies of all the levers shall assume substantially horizontal alin ement when the top is in its raised or elevated position and a suitable brake joint being provided between said intermediate bow and Outrigger, Opening only in an upward direction. i

4. A top for automobiles and other vehicles comprising a vehicle body with which a main bow is pivotally connected, a rear bow pivotally connectedk with said main bow adjacent its connection with the vehicle body, an Outrigger bow, an intermediate bow supported intermediate of said main and Outrigger bows respectively, a lazy tongs connection between the bows, the said lazy tongs connection beingI of such character that each of the bows forward of the rearinost has the forward and rear extremi ties of one pair of lazy tongs levers on each side of the top pivotally connected therewithkwhile the corresponding extremities of another pair of similarly located levers are pivotally connected with each other, but

free from the bow, the pivots of the two pairs of levers being adjacent to each other, the pivoted extremities of one pair of levers being bent upwardly, and of the other pair downwardly, the said bends being at such angles that the bodies of all of the levers connected with each other shall assume positions between their bent extremities in substantially horizontal alinement when the top is extended, and means operatively connected with the rear and main bows for extending or compressing'the top.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY W. MOMULLIN.

Witnesses GRACE HUs'roN, A. EBERT OBmnN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Y f Washington, D. C. 

